“At Tenu Spirits, we let experimentation loose, open to the complexities of life. Our wild nature is unbound and eventually distilled into uncut simplicity.”
Tenu Spirits – simply untamed.
Our story
Tenu Spirits Ltd is an avant-garde company specializing in alcoholic beverages, based in Finland. Founded by chef Antto Melasniemi and artist Klaus Haapaniemi, it was born in 2014 from a shared desire to explore the possibilities of drinks. Tenu Spirits is driven by the non-stop quest for excitement and quality.
The selection of alcoholic beverages by Tenu Spirits Ltd is ever evolving and based on a thirst to find new angles to drink. For us, questioning the rules of drinks, flavours, combinations, quality and joy comes naturally. Our first and best-known product is Tënu Gin — the undiluted essence of us. Serving our signature complexity with a fascinating simplicity. Crystallized miracles for open minds.
Our process is collaborative. We work with the world’s most interesting distilleries and producers, exploring what we can create together. This approach keeps us focused on creativity and experimenting. That’s how we fulfil our mission to introduce fresh, unconventional ideas to the world.
Tënu Gin™ – Forest Blend
47% alcohol by volume.
Available in 20 cl and 50 cl glass bottles, gift box option for 50 cl.
+ Main ingredients
Juniper berries
Lingonberries (we only use wild, handpicked Finnish berries)
Wild rose petals (from the Finnish archipelago)
Orris root
Coriander seeds
Grapefruit peel
+ The process
After maceration the mash is distilled in a 150-litre Arnold Holstein copper pot still with citrus peels in a botanical basket. The 80% alcohol distillate is let to rest about 3 weeks and thereafter bottled at 47%.
+ The Story
Tënu Gin was created for a pop-up restaurant in 2014. Tënu Restaurant in London and its distinctive Tënu gin gained such succes that Antto Melasniemi and Klaus Haapaniemi, the founders of the project decided to make the gin available for wider public.
After extensive research they ended up to collaborate with Valamo Monastery Distillery, that would be a perfect place to produce the commercial version of the cult gin. The quality of water in Eastern Finland is phenomenal and maybe the most distinctive ingredient of Tënu, lingonberry, is found wild in the vicinity of the distillery. A simple Arnold Holstein still is used to create a balance between the savage nature and the fragile elegance of the gin.
What does Tënu mean? You need to find a Finn to ask, and even then the answer might not help you understand much more. The label by Klaus Haapaniemi is a nod to Finnish folklore where the black swan sails on the river of Tuonela.
+ How to use
For a perfect gin and tonic, focus on the tonic water. A less sweet and elegant tonic will compliment our gin the best. To bring out the best of Tënu, keep the decoration minimal, a pink grapefruit peel of a kaffir lime leaf will do, if going without garnish is not your cup of GT.
For cocktails, simplicity is the key. Tënu loves cherry, bitters and umami taste overall. Break the rules, make a Cosmopolitan with gin, or a Martini with bitters. Get anarchic inspiration here.
In Finland, we celebrate the natural flavor of our gin by serving tiny (2cl) glasses of Tënu from a freezer, straight up or with a drop of bitters. It’s not recommended to try this with a regular gin.
Le Bon Tikka - Barrel Aged Gin
50,5% alcohol by volume.
Available in 50 cl glass bottle.
+ Main ingredients
Juniper berries
Bilberries (we only use wild, handpicked, Finnish berries)
Wild rose petals
Orris root
Coriander seeds
Lemon peel
+ The process
After maceration the mash is distilled in 150-litre Arnold Holstein copper pot still with citrus peels in botanical basket. The distillate is aged at 58% in 200-litre medium toasted new American oak barrels for approximately 6 months.
+ The Story
Like so many great inventions, this begun by accident. A test batch of Tënu gin where lingonberries were substituted with bilberries was found too heavy and unbalanced to be acceptable. However, the distillate had quite some character, so it was given a second chance by letting it age in new oak barrels for months. Different barrels gave different results, some too vanilla, some rather woody, so best of them were blended and bottled at cask strength. After quite some time the bottles were opened and tested, and Le Bon Tikka was born.
Tikka means woodpecker for Finnish, find that fine forest bird and the bilberries on the label by Klaus Haapaniemi.
+ How to use
Le Bon Tikka can be enjoyed neat or with ice, maybe with a drop of water if 50,5% alcohol feels too much.
Le Bon Tikka makes great gin & tonic. An aromatic tonic water and garnish with sweet tones will make wonders.
Classic cocktails where whisky, cognac or other aged spirits are substituted with Le Bon Tikka are quite amazing. Old Fashioned, Sazerac and Manhattan are our favourites.
Le Bon Tikka Édition 1
A long story short: This is Le Bon Tikka, aged in small 30-litre cask and bottled at 57% ABV. Use it like there was only 80 bottles of it on this planet.
+ Main ingredients
Juniper berries
Bilberries (we only use wild, handpicked, Finnish berries)
Wild rose petals
Orris root
Coriander seeds
Lemon peel